The “Friendly Neighbor”

Sometimes in life a guy simply feels sorry for the miserable life some people must drudge through on a day to day basis. We’ve been unfortunatley involved in an ongoing fued with 2 neighbors up the road for a number of years. It started many years back when we were ambushed on a board of adjustments meetin when we sought a variance to build a slightly larger garage to house our boat down by the lake. Not knowing our “Friendly” neighbors at the time we endured a NO DICE vote from the Good Ole Boys Board. This was before Cheryl and I built our home and I vividly recall these neighbors telling the board I was going to live in the garage!! I will admit I am slow to forget things I feel are unjust or outright lies. Needless to say our relationship with these two neighbors has been less than desirable for the past years. Still I’ve tried to simply go about our business and let the miserable remain miserable. Yesterday I received a call from both the sheriffs department and Highway department in regards to my permanent fish house. I was frankly a bit shocked this would receive such attention. The sheriff’s department was not that keen to have any form of involvement in such a petty matter they assured me, yet needed to show they are doing their job in responding to a complaint. Still the highway department and I on the contrary didn’t exactly see eye to eye on this situation. We live on a small single laned county road that services around 8-9 residences. Just an old school small blacktopped service road. Our front lot with our lake access has our permanent fish house parked alongside the shoulder. It is about 6 feet off this road. I have been informed that I need to immediately move the house to clear the right away of 20 feet from the centerline meaning I need to go down hook it up and move it about 4 total feet. Now of course this has opened up a can of worms from my perspective as some residences main driveway leading to their garage is condiderably short. This same 20 foot right of way leads halfway into their paved drive. Life is too short my friends. I’ll buck up and move the fish house and I’ll await the movement of your vehicles off your driveway for the safety of all concerned. I’ve often wondered if some might only worry about themselves how simple life might really be.

Get out the tape measure and measure off the road right of way from the center of the road. Then put the fish house right on it.
DT

A good neighbor can make a terrible area a nice place to live and a bad neighbor can ruin paradise. Sadly – there is NOTHING you can do to make some people happy…they will find a cause to be irritated no matter what.

T

Hey Chris! You could take the ultra-high road and invite the friendly neighbors over for a walleye dinner or take them out fishing and clear the air. You could put an end to your neighbor troubles and if they turn you down flat you will have made them more miserable by being the bigger man. Kind of a win-win situation.

Joel

Sounds like it’s time for a target practice party. Nothing better for the neighborhood than the sound of gun fire all day.

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Get out the tape measure and measure off the road right of way from the center of the road. Then put the fish house right on it.
DT

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DONE!! I’m sure the mornings ride up the road on my atv with my tape measure and camera recording evidence of all other private belongings within the same right of way forwarded to the highway department with expectations of universal enforcement should ruffle some feathers. Come to think of it moving a fish house on wheels seems rather easy compared to what some now surely will be faced with.

People can really be “Richards” sometimes… …RR

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Hey Chris! You could take the ultra-high road and invite the friendly neighbors over for a walleye dinner or take them out fishing and clear the air. You could put an end to your neighbor troubles and if they turn you down flat you will have made them more miserable by being the bigger man. Kind of a win-win situation.

Joel

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I clearly understand where your coming from there Joel. A part of me is truly on board with being the bigger man still a spark deep in my sould me pulls me away. In all honesty a mere 3 weeks ago I talked to Cheryl and said you know……I will never likely be friends with those who have went out of their way to hurt us, but I’d like to bury the hatchet so to speak. Cheryl knowing full well my competitive inner being looked a bit astonished. I exclaimed “This Christmas I propose we hand deliver a tin of cookies and a Christmas cards to those 2 neighbors.” Unfortunately it appears Christmas was too far off.

Hey Chris, Doesn’t sound like its all men in man-land . It’s good that you know the town ordinances to help your cause though. Have you thoroughly looked into getting a setback variance? Normally to do this you just have to show a legitimate and reasonable hardship toward the existing ordinance. In your case, request to hold the town board meeting at the top of your driveway anytime between Dec 1 and March 1…

The important thing is to not let miserable people make you miserable and I think you are somebody who would not let that happen. Take care sir!

Joel

Using the law to your advantage is a very smart move! You pay taxes so you deserve equal treatment as everyone else does. During my time as a Sheriff’s Deputy I really got tired of writing reports because of peoples petty B.S. But law enforcement also get paid to do it! They opened the legal can of worms so use the legal system against them.

Just curious if the other residents on your road have problems with these bozos as well….

Sad to have to put up with petty crap.

Good Luck

Pete

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Using the law to your advantage is a very smart move! You pay taxes so you deserve equal treatment as everyone else does. During my time as a Sheriff’s Deputy I really got tired of writing reports because of peoples petty B.S. But law enforcement also get paid to do it! They opened the legal can of worms so use the legal system against them.

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Unfortunately, all this will do is give them a reason to look for something to use against you down the road.
As you get older, this kind of crap takes up less and less of your time. Simply because you don’t care about stuff that just doesn’t matter.

Chris – I know your way further ahead of where I was at your age in this regard but IMHO, trust your wife in this regard and go with the tin of cookies. Maybe even ask them to come directly to you next time they have an issue so you can work them out like good neighbors do.

The last thing you want is your neighbors working against you down the road when you may actually need their help or approval on a variance that really does matter!

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Hey Chris! You could take the ultra-high road and invite the friendly neighbors over for a walleye dinner or take them out fishing and clear the air. You could put an end to your neighbor troubles and if they turn you down flat you will have made them more miserable by being the bigger man. Kind of a win-win situation.

Joel

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I clearly understand where your coming from there Joel. A part of me is truly on board with being the bigger man still a spark deep in my sould me pulls me away. In all honesty a mere 3 weeks ago I talked to Cheryl and said you know……I will never likely be friends with those who have went out of their way to hurt us, but I’d like to bury the hatchet so to speak. Cheryl knowing full well my competitive inner being looked a bit astonished. I exclaimed “This Christmas I propose we hand deliver a tin of cookies and a Christmas cards to those 2 neighbors.” Unfortunately it appears Christmas was too far off.

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Cmon’ Chris, we had the Christmas tree set up a few weeks ago… I have to admit it was a bit hot for Tom and Jerry’s though

Oh why can’t people just get along lol? I hate neighbors that do nothing but cause problems. Its like they dont realize they are crapping where they eat. And to top it off these neighbors never have the balls to come over and tell me what the problem is. Gotta call the cops and take them off their duties of actually taking care of real problems.

I always saying karma will come around and it usually does

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Using the law to your advantage is a very smart move! You pay taxes so you deserve equal treatment as everyone else does. During my time as a Sheriff’s Deputy I really got tired of writing reports because of peoples petty B.S. But law enforcement also get paid to do it! They opened the legal can of worms so use the legal system against them.

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Unfortunately, all this will do is give them a reason to look for something to use against you down the road.
As you get older, this kind of crap takes up less and less of your time. Simply because you don’t care about stuff that just doesn’t matter.

Chris – I know your way further ahead of where I was at your age in this regard but IMHO, trust your wife in this regard and go with the tin of cookies. Maybe even ask them to come directly to you next time they have an issue so you can work them out like good neighbors do.

The last thing you want is your neighbors working against you down the road when you may actually need their help or approval on a variance that really does matter!

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I agree with this. Unless you or they are planning to move sometime in the near future. Might just have to take this as a minor offense and let it pass. Even with this my nature would still force me to go over and talk to them about this and every other stink they ever make. The reason they call the city was because they where to chicken **** to talk to you face to face. If you make a appearance at their home every time they do this for a friendly conversation about the issue and you might stir the pot enough that they stop doing this stuff. Face to face confrontation scares the heck out of some people even if it is civil in nature.

OUCH – I too have had a run in with my neighbor over something. The weird part is, I also WORK WITH HER. I tried to go over with my wife and cookies and she slammed the door in my face. Now I am doing the “killing her with kindness thing”. The interesting part is that is actually making my job EASIER as she does not bug me about so many things anymore. Hang in there.

Have you ever heard the story of the city councilman Mark Easton and his neighbor out in Utah? Funny stuff, Here is the end results facing at him when it was all said and done.
I’m sure you can google the story for more pictures too

or even better in your next “issue” go to their place and say “you might want to watch out as some one called the sherriff/city on me about this, and you might be net who knows.

then slip a little “to bad they did not talk to me about it. I have no problem moving/doing such and such. and everything would be good. just pretty sad”.

nice easy to the point and then some maybe even open a door of conversation. maybe they will even be ballsy enough to admit to calling on you. who knows.

We all hate neighbors like this, but it is what it is. Being in construction, I have dealt with many circumstances where a client needed a variance and the blessing from their neighbors. Its a bunch of crap when your singled out, and you get the finest of details under a microscope. Best to just take the high road and forget any type of retaliation. It doesn’t solve anything except a very short term level of satisfaction. Hopefully the day will come when they need an approval, and you’ll put your professionalism to good use in showing a case where it is detrimental and shouldn’t be done. Long term sweet justice.

BTW – your lucky you get to store your shack on your property. Our township would considers that a temporary shed, which requires a marked PLAT of Survey, Land Use Permit, and best of all…..a Building Permit It’s their attempt to reduce the permanent use of those tent types of temporary sheds. What we need, more rules…

I was on the city council in the small town I lived in before I moved to Red Wing. Wow you can’t imagine all the stupid phone calls and complaints! As Bill Engvall says ” You can’t fix stupid”! We also had some chitty neighbors and it can weigh on you! Good Luck! Gotta hope they will die soon!

You all are much nicer then I would be. I wouldn’t confront them or even acknowledge them. I would move the fish house and lock the experience into my memory bank. At a future date I would get my satisfaction.

I know they would need to wait 20 minutes on the road every single time you struggled to back the boat up your driveway.

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

I think the “I would not poop where I sleep” saying goes here. I am all about delivering swift justice – when wronged. However, you live amongst these meddling idiots. Nobody says you need to be their friends and they obviously don’t like your program, either.

I would just comply with the law, not get in other people’s way and basically be the kind of neighbor that you wish they would be.

You will regret being petty. Saying or doing something foolish will only foster more of the same behavior from your neighbors.

It is always tough to be the bigger person.

Trust me, I know. I have to live it, everyday, in my neighborhood.

Dog

Get yourself a Harley with straight exhaust and drive it to work everyday. Sure it’s a short commute, very short, but that’s not the point. “Good morning Mr and Mrs Neighbor!”

Well many of you will be happy to know my daughter and I hooked up the fishhouse and parked it next to the lake. It is on wheels, so technically most would consider it a trailer. It is now a good 50 feet from the centerline, so shouldn’t take a paid goverment employee another half day of taxpayers monety to come back out and measure for us. I also called the Highway department representative and apologized for being a bit confrontational with him in regards to his petty demands. I realized we both are dealing with the same difficult people on different levels. I told him I didn’t want to kill the messenger, but asked if he’d here me out in my frustrations regarding this matter. He later told me of the holy **** these 2 neighbors have raised with a reconstruction project they initiated to take place on our little Ifalls roadway. They held a meeting in the town hall apparently 2 weeks ago in which they invited other neighbors, but must have forgotten us. Anyway……..House is moved and I’m a bit saddened to say, but don’t feel like being the bigger man just yet. I’ll go about our business abiding by state laws and city ordinances as long as everyone else plays by the same rules. I have an issue with picking and choosing those who need to play by the rules and those who don’t. Still thinking about the tin of cookies!!

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Get yourself a Harley with straight exhaust and drive it to work everyday. Sure it’s a short commute, very short, but that’s not the point. “Good morning Mr and Mrs Neighbor!”

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LOL!! Love it Blackbay!! Too bad that 300 “Yamie” purrs like a kitten at low speeds!!

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Have you ever heard the story of the city councilman Mark Easton and his neighbor out in Utah? Funny stuff, Here is the end results facing at him when it was all said and done.
I’m sure you can google the story for more pictures too

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I will admit a very similiar design was thought of last night as Cheryl and I discussed a possible solution!! Thank goodness we didn’t re-side the log home last night!!

Skip the cookies.
Don’t be the bigger man.
Plan and execute your revenge.
Life is to short not to be a prick to those who deserve it.

That the county officials have heard of these people tells you all you need to know.

Maybe instead of cookies a thoughtfully chosen lawn ornament may be in order.

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I can lend you my “brass dog” to kick when the urge arises. Seriously, if they are the same people who were there 25 years ago, I understand your pain. Send me a picture of their property and when I move up there in 23 months (less then 2 years ) I will make them an offer to move to a sunny climate. But, I would expect the fish and chips invite, at least once a year. Hang in there and now its 22 months and 29 days).